Ejector fork



Nov. 3, 1944 B. E. SOLINSKI ET AL 2,363,702

EJECTOR FORK Original Filed Aug. 18, 1941 frzveiz Z0245 Patented Nov.28, 1944 i t i UNITED STATE s PATENT ()FFICE EJECTOR FORK,

Bruno E. Solinskiand Anthony J. Hudec,

\ Cicero, Ill.

Substituted for abandoned application SerialNo.

407,326, August 18, 1941. April 3,1944, Serial N0. 529,322

, t J 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ejectorforks forculinary ortable use, while being particularlyadapted for use as a pickle fork.This application isasubstitute for an earlier abandonedapplication filedby us, August 18,

1941; SerialNumber407326, for the same device.

This application One object is: to provide anejector fork having anejector assembly that may be applied to a-conventionartype of-picklefork to convert the same into an ejector fork. r

A further object is to provide an ejector fork having an ejectorassemblythat is adjustable longitudinally of the forkshank or" transverselythereof thereby providing a flexibility ofconstruction' thatprevents'breakage, binding of the parts in usejandadds'materially to theutility arrangement of parts to be hereinafter fully described, pointedout in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing whichforms a part of this patent and in which- Fig. 1 is a view of the forkin side elevation, two positionsof certain adjustable features beingshown.

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the fork. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view,partly, in vertical section and partly in elevation, on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of Fig. l elevation, taken on theline 4-4 thereof.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in plan, of Fig. 1 before thestop bosses are applied to the fork shank.

in end Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 after the formation of thestop bosses upon the fork shank,

one member being shown in dotted lines in a secondposition, and,

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the bridge linkemployed.

The same reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

The present ejector fork includes essentially a stationary fork shankhaving a handle at one end and tines at the other and a movable ejectorshank connected by a head at one end to the fork shank and by an ejectorplate to the tines, said shanks being further connected to each other byabridge link between said head and plate. l

The reference numeral I denotes the conventional'fork shank having ahandle 2 and tines 3 preferably curved slightly, said tines inthepresent instancebeing two in number. The shank l is formedwith stop lugsor bosses! in spaced relation to the handle 2. An ejector shank 5preferably shorter than 'the'shank i and of somewhat lesser diametercarries a head 6 at one end and an ejector plate I at the opposite end,said head being slidably arranged upon the fork shank I betweenthehandlei and the bosses 4 of a diameter-materially greater than thatof the adjacentend of said handle to form an abutment for the thumborfingerof the operator when using the fork.. The ejector plate isslidably arranged upon the tines 3 and is, of course,

perforated for passage of the same therethrough.v

Slidably connecting the ejector shank 5 to the shank l is the Z-shapedbridge link 8, the ends thereof being perforated for passage of theshanks therethrough, the link end arranged upon the shank I beingdisposed between the bosses 4 and the head 6. An expansion coil spring 9arranged upon the ejector shank abuts the bridge link at oneend and thehead 6 at the opposite and serves yieldingly to keep said members themaximum distance apart thus retracting the ejector shank with respect tothe shank l and yieldingly keeping the ejector plate in retractedposition upon the tines 3. It will be noted that the bridge link isslidable longitudinally of both shanks I and 5 though yieldinglyretained in maximum outward spaced relation to the head 6 and, further,that said bridge link is capable of a limited degree of movementtransversely of the shank l by the operator with his thumb-or finger inengagement with the head 6.

The extent of this movement ineither direc tion is determined by therelation of the diameters of, the ejector plate perforations to that ofthe fork tines and the curvature of the fork tines. bly prevents bindingof any of the parts as the ejector shank is adjusted or moved withrelation to the shank I. Breakage of any of the parts, unduestrain uponthe same, and binding at any point are positively prevented by thebridge link connection between the shanks.

' In use the fork is grasped by the handle and used to pick up anarticle by the tines in the usual way. To eject the object from thetines the thumb is applied to the head 6 to press the same away from thehandle and so force the This particular construction and assemtively andeasily effected without binding of any of the parts at any point due tothe particular construction and application of the bridge link.

The ejector assembly comprising the ejector I shank 5, head 6, ejectorplate 1, bridge link 8 and spring 9 may be readily applied to'anyconventional pickle fork or the like and thereafter forming the bosses 4upon the fork shank as a stop for the bridge link, thus making anefficient ejector fork of a common pickle fork.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent, we desire to haveit understood that we do not limit ourselves to what is herein shown anddescribed, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fallwithin the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ejector fork, a stationary shank having tines and a handle,bosses upon said shank in spaced relation to said handle, an ejectorshank, a head at one end of said ejector shank slidable vupon saidstationary shank between said bosses and handle, an ejector plate at theopposite end of said ejector shank slidable upon'said tines, a bridgelink engaging said stationary shank and abutting said bridge link andhead.

2. In an ejector fork, a shank, shank tines,

shank bosses, a handle, an ejector shank, an ejector plate carriedthereby and slidably engaging said tines, a head carried by said ejectorshank and slidably engaging said fork shank between said bosses andhandle, a link loosely connecting said shanks together, said linkengaging said fork shank between said shank bosses andsaid head, and anexpansion spring encompassing said ejector shank and abutting said linkand said head.

3. The combination with a fork, of an ejector shank, a plate carriedthereby and perforated to receive the tines of the fork, a head carriedby said ejector shank perforated to receive the shank of the fork, aZ-shaped bridge link loosely'engaging said ejector shank and perforatedto receive the shank of the fork, and an expansion spring carried bysaid ejector shank and abutting said link and head.

4. In an ejector fork, a stationary shank having' curved tines and ahandle, an ejector shank, an ejector plate fast to one end of saidejector shank perforated to receive said tines and slidable thereover,the perforations in said ejector plate being materially larger indiameter than said tines to permit transverse movement of said platewith respect thereto, bosses .upon said stationary shank in spacedrelation to said handle, a bridge link loosely engaging said sta-.

tionary shank between said bosses and head and slidably connecting saidejector shank thereto, and an expansion spring arranged upon saidejectorshank and abutting said bridge, link and head.

. BRUNO E. SOLINSKI.

ANTHONY J. HUDEC.

